{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-456.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-456.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-456.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-456.html"}],"law_id":70926,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70926,"structure_id":15609,"section_number":"18.2-456","catch_line":"Cases in which courts and judges may punish summarily for contempt","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-292; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 2019, c. 708; 2024, c. 109.","full_text":"A\n\nThe courts and judges may issue attachments for contempt, and punish them summarily, only in the following cases:1\n\nMisbehavior in the presence of the court, or so near thereto as to obstruct or interrupt the administration of justice;2\n\nViolence, or threats of violence, to a judge or officer of the court, or to a juror, witness, or party going to, attending, or returning from the court, for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court;3\n\nVile, contemptuous, or insulting language addressed to or published of a judge for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court, or like language used in his presence and intended for his hearing for or in respect of such act or proceeding;4\n\nMisbehavior of an officer of the court in his official character;5\n\nDisobedience or resistance of an officer of the court, juror, witness, or other person to any lawful process, judgment, decree, or order of the court; and6\n\nWillful failure to appear before any court or judicial officer as required after having been charged with a felony offense or misdemeanor offense or released on a summons pursuant to § 19.2-73 or 19.2-74.B\n\nThe judge shall indicate, in writing, under which subdivision in subsection A a person is being charged and punished for contempt.C\n\nNothing in subdivision A 6 shall be construed to prohibit prosecution under § 19.2-128. The provisions of subdivision A 6 shall not apply to any person who is (i) incarcerated in any correctional facility or (ii) (a) detained in any state or federal facility or (b) in the custody of a law-enforcement officer at the time such person is required to appear before any court or judicial officer.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":255759,"text":"The courts and judges may issue attachments for contempt, and punish them summarily, only in the following cases:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":255760,"text":"Misbehavior in the presence of the court, or so near thereto as to obstruct or interrupt the administration of justice;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":255761,"text":"Violence, or threats of violence, to a judge or officer of the court, or to a juror, witness, or party going to, attending, or returning from the court, for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":255762,"text":"Vile, contemptuous, or insulting language addressed to or published of a judge for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court, or like language used in his presence and intended for his hearing for or in respect of such act or proceeding;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":255763,"text":"Misbehavior of an officer of the court in his official character;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":255764,"text":"Disobedience or resistance of an officer of the court, juror, witness, or other person to any lawful process, judgment, decree, or order of the court; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":255765,"text":"Willful failure to appear before any court or judicial officer as required after having been charged with a felony offense or misdemeanor offense or released on a summons pursuant to § 19.2-73 or 19.2-74.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"B"},"7":{"id":255766,"text":"The judge shall indicate, in writing, under which subdivision in subsection A a person is being charged and punished for contempt.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"C"},"8":{"id":255767,"text":"Nothing in subdivision A 6 shall be construed to prohibit prosecution under § 19.2-128. The provisions of subdivision A 6 shall not apply to any person who is (i) incarcerated in any correctional facility or (ii) (a) detained in any state or federal facility or (b) in the custody of a law-enforcement officer at the time such person is required to appear before any court or judicial officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15609,"edition_id":1,"name":"Contempt of Court","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13246,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:51","permalink":{"id":164331,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15609,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/10\/5","url":"\/18.2\/10\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13246,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against the Administration of Justice","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":164221,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13246,"identifier":"10","token":"18.2\/10","url":"\/18.2\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":70926,"structure_id":15609,"section_number":"18.2-456","catch_line":"Cases in which courts and judges may punish summarily for contempt","url":"\/18.2-456\/","token":"18.2\/10\/5\/18.2-456","metadata":false},{"id":79107,"structure_id":15609,"section_number":"18.2-457","catch_line":"Fine and imprisonment by court limited unless jury impaneled","url":"\/18.2-457\/","token":"18.2\/10\/5\/18.2-457","metadata":false},{"id":74522,"structure_id":15609,"section_number":"18.2-458","catch_line":"Power of judge of district court to punish for contempt","url":"\/18.2-458\/","token":"18.2\/10\/5\/18.2-458","metadata":false},{"id":59586,"structure_id":15609,"section_number":"18.2-459","catch_line":"Appeal from sentence of such judge","url":"\/18.2-459\/","token":"18.2\/10\/5\/18.2-459","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":79107,"structure_id":15609,"section_number":"18.2-457","catch_line":"Fine and imprisonment by court limited unless jury impaneled","url":"\/18.2-457\/","token":"18.2\/10\/5\/18.2-457","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-456\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 2019, chapter 708<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 109<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66525,"section_number":"16.1-248.1","catch_line":"Criteria for detention or shelter care","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-248.1\/"},{"id":63958,"section_number":"16.1-292","catch_line":"Violation of court order by any person","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-292\/"},{"id":66542,"section_number":"16.1-69.24","catch_line":"Contempt of court","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.24\/"},{"id":79107,"section_number":"18.2-457","catch_line":"Fine and imprisonment by court limited unless jury impaneled","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-457\/"},{"id":80018,"section_number":"19.2-267.1","catch_line":"Authority of law-enforcement officer to issue summons to witness; failure to appear","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-267.1\/"},{"id":82582,"section_number":"19.2-390","catch_line":"Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-390\/"},{"id":80211,"section_number":"19.2-392","catch_line":"Fingerprints and photographs by police authorities","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392\/"},{"id":78650,"section_number":"65.2-202","catch_line":"Subpoena powers of the Commission; production of records and papers","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-202\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":78904,"section_number":"19.2-128","catch_line":"Penalties for failure to appear","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-128\/"},{"id":62110,"section_number":"19.2-73","catch_line":"Issuance of summons instead of warrant in certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-73\/"}],"permalink":{"id":164333,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70926,"identifier":"18.2-456","token":"18.2\/10\/5\/18.2-456","url":"\/18.2-456\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-456\/","token":"18.2\/10\/5\/18.2-456","dublin_core":{"Title":"Cases in which courts and judges may punish summarily for contempt","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-456","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The courts<\/span> and judges<\/span> may issue<\/span> attachments<\/span> for contempt<\/span>, and punish them summarily, only in the following cases: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Misbehavior in the presence of the court<\/span>, or so near thereto as to obstruct or interrupt the administration of justice; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Violence, or threats of violence, to a judge<\/span> or officer of the court<\/span>, or to a juror, witness<\/span>, or party<\/span> going to, attending, or returning from the court<\/span>, for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Vile, contemptuous, or insulting language addressed to or published of a judge<\/span> for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court<\/span>, or like language used in his presence and intended for his hearing<\/span> for or in respect of such act or proceeding; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Misbehavior of an officer of the court<\/span> in his official character; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Disobedience or resistance of an officer of the court<\/span>, juror, witness<\/span>, or other person to any lawful process, judgment<\/span>, decree<\/span>, or order<\/span> of the court<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Willful failure to appear before any court<\/span> or judicial officer as required after having been charged with a felony<\/span> offense<\/span> or misdemeanor<\/span> offense<\/span> or released on a summons<\/span> pursuant to § 19.2-73<\/a> or 19.2-74<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The judge<\/span> shall indicate, in writing, under which subdivision in subsection A a person is being charged and punished for contempt<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Nothing in subdivision A 6 shall be construed to prohibit prosecution<\/span> under § 19.2-128<\/a>. The provisions of subdivision A 6 shall not apply to any person who is (i) incarcerated in any correctional facility or (ii) (a) detained in any state or federal facility or (b) in the custody<\/span> of a law<\/span>-enforcement officer at the time such person is required to appear before any court<\/span> or judicial officer. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCASES IN WHICH COURTS AND JUDGES MAY PUNISH SUMMARILY FOR CONTEMPT (\u00a7 18.2-456)\n\nA. The courts and judges may issue attachments for contempt, and punish them\nsummarily, only in the following cases:\n\n 1. Misbehavior in the presence of the court, or so near thereto as to obstruct\n or interrupt the administration of justice;\n\n 2. Violence, or threats of violence, to a judge or officer of the court, or to\n a juror, witness, or party going to, attending, or returning from the court,\n for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court;\n\n 3. Vile, contemptuous, or insulting language addressed to or published of a\n judge for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such\n court, or like language used in his presence and intended for his hearing for\n or in respect of such act or proceeding;\n\n 4. Misbehavior of an officer of the court in his official character;\n\n 5. Disobedience or resistance of an officer of the court, juror, witness, or\n other person to any lawful process, judgment, decree, or order of the court;\n and\n\n 6. Willful failure to appear before any court or judicial officer as required\n after having been charged with a felony offense or misdemeanor offense or\n released on a summons pursuant to § 19.2-73 or 19.2-74.\n\nB. The judge shall indicate, in writing, under which subdivision in subsection A\na person is being charged and punished for contempt.\n\nC. Nothing in subdivision A 6 shall be construed to prohibit prosecution under\n§ 19.2-128. The provisions of subdivision A 6 shall not apply to any person\nwho is (i) incarcerated in any correctional facility or (ii) (a) detained in any\nstate or federal facility or (b) in the custody of a law-enforcement officer at\nthe time such person is required to appear before any court or judicial officer.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-292; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 2019, c. 708;\n2024, c. 109.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}